HRI released “Top Health Industry Issues of 2018” and predict the New Year will be distinguished by persistent uncertainty and risk for the US health industry and likely mirroring 2017.

Key trends to shape healthcare in 2018 include:

  • Tackling the opioid epidemic, now the leading cause of death for adults younger than 50. Opioid related mortality now exceeds the death-rate from breast cancer
  • Social determinants are on the forefront, the U.S. spends over 10,000 per person, the most expensive healthcare worldwide, yet lags on the social support system needed for our escalating aging population.
  • Price transparency moves to the state capital, over 30 states are considering legislation that would directly control drug prices and shine light on healthcare cost changes.
  • Natural disasters create long-term devastation, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires cause massive demands for healthcare systems and resources. Proactive planning by manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, health systems etc. can increase the speed of recovery.
    • >Medicare Advantage increases in beneficiaries, projected to cover nearly 21 million people in 2018, a 5% increase from 2017. Offering competitive opportunities for additional health insurers.
  • Health care reform remains, only more complicated, Repeal and Replace is dead, yet, Republicans may continue to reduce and cap federal Medicaid spending, expand access to lower-premium health insurance, loosen ACA consumer protections, lighten the employer and individual mandates and repeal ACA taxes and fees.
  • Reducing cybersecurity breaches, 2017 revealed massive industry-wide breaches with a 525% increase in medical device cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies should invest in planning for defensive measuresto better protect patient sensitive data.
  • Patient experience is a priority, as the healthcare system pays for value vs. volume, healthcare systems will require strategic investments to improve the patient experience.

MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES CURRENT POLICY AND PRACTICE UPDATES TO ADDRESS THE LARGEST, FASTEST GROWING AND COSTLIEST U.S. PATIENT POPULATION – THOSE LIVING WITH MORE THAN 2 CHRONIC CONDITIONS.